TOWN FARM FOREST

NORTH ANDOVER’S POOR FARM

The town purchased this land from Samuel Jenkins in 1856 for use as the town’s poor farm. Common throughout the country at that time, poor farms provided publicly funded housing and employment for the poor. The farm operated on this site for about 100 years. The conservation area now includes 88 acres on this side of Dale street, and 90 acres across the street.

The trail begins behind the baseball diamond. The walk is fairly straight and level, with Town Farm Hill (also called Bear Hill) rising up steeply on the right. You will pass the North Andover Youth Services ropes course on the left. The trail ends at South Bradford St.

FLORA AND FAUNA

An old pine plantation at Town Farm Forest may have been the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Rows of red pine were planted with the intention of harvesting upon maturation. Many of now beginning to fall on their own as they reach the end of their life span. Look for lady’s slipper orchids and other wild owers blooming along the edge of the trail in spring.